Judges: RICHARD P. IEYOUB
Filed Date: 9/14/1998
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
Dear Judge Moore:
This office is in receipt of your opinion request in which you ask for a clarification of venue issues in a Justice of the Peace Court regarding contracts and Code of Civil Procedure Article
The general rule of venue provided in Code of Civil Procedure Article
Art. 42. General Rules
An action against: an individual who is domiciled in the state shall be brought in the parish of his domicile; or if he resides but is not domiciled in the state, in the parish of his residence.
Following the general rules of venue are exceptions to the general rules. Code of Civil Procedure Article
Art. 76.1. Action on contract
An action on a contract may be brought in the parish were the contract was executed or the parish where any work or service was performed or was to be performed under the terms of the contract.
Code of Civil Procedure Article
Art. 4916. Venue; justice of the peace courts
The rules of venue provided in Articles 41 through 45, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, and 79 apply to suits brought in justice of the peace court, except where these articles use the word "parish" it shall be construed to mean the territorial jurisdiction of the justice of the peace court.
Code of Civil Procedure Article
In general when there is a venue option, it is the plaintiff's choice as to where to bring a suit. If a plaintiff brings a suit in a ward or district which the defendant feels would constitute improper venue, the defendant must raise an objection to the improper venue or he waives his right to object to the venue. Code of Civil Procedure Article
Art. 44. Waiver of objections to venue
An objection to the venue may not be waived prior to the institution of the action.
The venue provided in Articles 2006, 2811, 2812, 3941, 3991, 4031 through 4034, 4541, and 4542 may not be waived.
Except as otherwise provided in this article or by other law, any objection to the venue, including one based on any article in this Chapter, is waived by the failure of the defendant to plead the declinatory exception timely as provided in Article 928.
If a finance company or entity or other plaintiff brings an action on a contract in the ward or district in which the contract was executed or the ward or district in which any work or service was performed or was to be performed under the terms of the contract pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article
We hope the foregoing sufficiently addresses your concerns. If our office may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Very truly yours,
RICHARD P. IEYOUB ATTORNEY GENERAL
By: __________________________ J. RICHARD WILLIAMS Assistant Attorney General
RPI/JRW:bb